Their name wasn’t really Walker … and they weren’t really brothers … and they weren’t really from England … and they didn’t open a chain of pancake restaurants … but the story of The Walker Brothers is perhaps one of the most unique success stories in the history of rock and roll.
The trio of (Noel) Scott Engel, John Maus and Gary Leeds formed in Los Angeles, California, where they developed their sound not much unlike that of The Righteous Brothers (ALSO not really brothers, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield), who put their own brand on blue-eyed soul.
The trio of (Noel) Scott Engel, John Maus and Gary Leeds formed in Los Angeles, California, where they developed their sound not much unlike that of The Righteous Brothers (ALSO not really brothers, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield), who put their own brand on blue-eyed soul.
Finding it difficult to chart with anything they were recording here in The States (largely due to the complete chart dominance of The British Invasion) the trio, now dubbed The Walker Brothers (as in Scott Walker, John Walker and Gary Walker) moved to England with the idea that perhaps a little “reverse psychology” might do the trick … and did it ever!
They quickly had ten Top 40 Hits in The UK and we here in America, none the wiser, just assumed that they were another British band, part of the invasion, and suddenly had a couple of monster hits here in The States, too!
Their version of the Hal David – Burt Bacharach song “Make It Easy On Yourself” went to #16 (and topped the charts in Great Britain) and a song written by the successful songwriting team behind The Four Seasons’ hits, Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio (and first recorded as a solo number by Frankie Valli), “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore” went all the way to #13 and also topped the charts in the UK.
That one captured not only the feel of The Righteous Brothers but also the complete Wall Of Sound production values of Phil Spector … it was a GREAT record (and is still one of my favorites, not only of the ‘60’s but of the entire rock era.) Check out the absolutely awesome clip below.
“My Ship Is Coming In” went to #3 in 1965 there … and a comeback hit released in 1976, “No Regrets,” also made The Top Ten, peaking at #7.
In addition, all three “brothers” enjoyed solo pop hits in the ‘60’s with tracks like “You Don’t Love Me” (#26, 1966) and “Twinkie Lee” (#26, 1966) by Gary Walker, “Annabella” (#24, 1967) by John Walker and “Jackie” (#22, 1968), “Joanna” (#7, 1968) and “Lights Of Cincinatti” (their spelling, not mine!), #13, 1969, by Scott Walker.
So when news came this week about the death of Noel Scott Engel, we were flooded with emails from FH Readers.
A much bigger success in Great Britain (where it is said he was a huge influence on the careers of David Bowie and Radiohead, among others), Engel recorded ten solo albums and developed a much more avant garde musical style in his solo career.
I heard last night on NPR-BBC that Scott Walker of the Walker Brothers passed away yesterday. He was 76. "The sun ain't gonna shine anymore."
Peace,
Tim Kiley
From Harvey Kubernik …
Although not very acknowledged or reported, let it be proudly known that Scott Walker went to Los Angeles High School, could have graduated from Hollywood High School, logged time doing menial tasks and learning recording techniques in East Hollywood at the legendary Gold Star studio, recorded there, worked with the Routers of "Let's Go" fame, a big hit single. He was also the product of seeing many foreign films on Hollywood Blvd. which informed his cinematic recordings with The Walker Brothers. Fixtures on the Hollywood club scene 1963-1965.
Listen to the Walker Brothers "Love Her," arranged by Jack Nitzsche, produced by Nik Venet and engineered by Dave Hassinger at RCA studios on Sunset Blvd. and no doubt influenced his renaissance and contemporary work after they disbanded.
I did this interview with Howard Kaylan of the Turtles earlier this decade ... some astute observations.
Done in 2013 for Record Collector News Magazine
© 2013, 2019 Harvey Kubernik
Best,
HK
Harvey Kubernik: You’ve always cited the Walker Brothers out of your vast record collection. Scott Walker went to Los Angeles High School and you went to Westchester High. He briefly worked at Gold Star and was involved with the Routers’ of “Let’s Go” fame. You both emerged out of instrumental bands. You were in the Cross Fires. Then as a Turtle you recorded in Gold Star. He saw foreign movies on Hollywood Boulevard in the mid-sixties and you wrote a song about the street, “Somewhere Friday Night.”
Done in 2013 for Record Collector News Magazine
© 2013, 2019 Harvey Kubernik
Best,
HK
Harvey Kubernik: You’ve always cited the Walker Brothers out of your vast record collection. Scott Walker went to Los Angeles High School and you went to Westchester High. He briefly worked at Gold Star and was involved with the Routers’ of “Let’s Go” fame. You both emerged out of instrumental bands. You were in the Cross Fires. Then as a Turtle you recorded in Gold Star. He saw foreign movies on Hollywood Boulevard in the mid-sixties and you wrote a song about the street, “Somewhere Friday Night.”
Howard Kaylan: I love the Walker Brothers records but for different reasons I love Scott records. The Walker Brothers were in my Spector and Righteous Brothers wheelhouse.
And I understood them for the pop that they were. And kids for the Americans they were. Strangers in a strange land and just kind of accepting their position. We always thought of the Walker Brothers as ex-pats that had just kind of turned into that country’s Righteous Brothers. But after that era disappeared nobody in this country bought the Scott albums. Nobody knew he was this incredible balladeer with an eye for the continental music. Nobody knew who he was at all. They didn’t fuckin’ care.
And I was one of those people who wrote off the Walker Brothers too. “Night Flight” and the Scott stuff is the only Walker Brothers record I can listen too. I can’t listen to ‘The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore” because I realize that’s a kid on his way to finding his truth.
How come nobody has heard Scott fuckin’ Walker? Am I the only guy in America who knows there is this genius living in England? And he is probably my favorite living artist. Having discovered Scott Walker so late in my life after “Station to Station” by maybe 25 years. It’s a slap in the face to me.
It’s the realization that my thin white duke also had his influences and beyond them. I think if you listen to “Tilt” and “Drift” and “Who Will Go to the Ball” I think that is the genius right there. My jaw hit the ground when I heard “Tilt.” I had never heard anything close to that in my life. And by the time he got “Drift” I understood what he was doing.
I totally understand what he is doing. He is doing the most conventional pop music I ever heard. He is just doing it as if he was observing it from outer space and then trying to tell you what he saw as an alien. I believe what he is doing is very much verve chorus ending. It’s just when your chorus is a bleeding sheep being hit then you don’t really look at it as a repeatable rock ‘n’ roll thing you can sing along too. But in structure it is. It is very conventional. You just have to kind of break it down more than listening to it as an observer and saying, ‘This guy’s nuts. He shouldn’t have that sound. My ears hurt and now he is blasting me with a live dying goat. What the hell am I supposed to make of this? Sing along, pal.'
I get him and I don’t totally understand why America doesn’t get him. They don’t get him because they don’t get Frank [Zappa]. They don’t take the time.
Now here’s something we’ve been waiting for for years!!! …
Hi Kent,
Now that Record Research has published the complete history of the Radio & Records Top 40 chart(s), we’d love to do the same for The Gavin Report (which ran from 1958-2002). We have every issue, starting with March 27, 1981. However, finding ANY issues before that time has been nearly impossible!
Obviously, we can’t do a book without access to those charts. I’ve been reaching out to all of my radio friends and even some of the old Gavin staffers in the hopes that somebody may have saved those back issues.
If anybody has any leads, please send them on to me at paul@recordresearch.com.
Thank you!
Paul Haney
Record Research
And I understood them for the pop that they were. And kids for the Americans they were. Strangers in a strange land and just kind of accepting their position. We always thought of the Walker Brothers as ex-pats that had just kind of turned into that country’s Righteous Brothers. But after that era disappeared nobody in this country bought the Scott albums. Nobody knew he was this incredible balladeer with an eye for the continental music. Nobody knew who he was at all. They didn’t fuckin’ care.
And I was one of those people who wrote off the Walker Brothers too. “Night Flight” and the Scott stuff is the only Walker Brothers record I can listen too. I can’t listen to ‘The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore” because I realize that’s a kid on his way to finding his truth.
How come nobody has heard Scott fuckin’ Walker? Am I the only guy in America who knows there is this genius living in England? And he is probably my favorite living artist. Having discovered Scott Walker so late in my life after “Station to Station” by maybe 25 years. It’s a slap in the face to me.
It’s the realization that my thin white duke also had his influences and beyond them. I think if you listen to “Tilt” and “Drift” and “Who Will Go to the Ball” I think that is the genius right there. My jaw hit the ground when I heard “Tilt.” I had never heard anything close to that in my life. And by the time he got “Drift” I understood what he was doing.
I totally understand what he is doing. He is doing the most conventional pop music I ever heard. He is just doing it as if he was observing it from outer space and then trying to tell you what he saw as an alien. I believe what he is doing is very much verve chorus ending. It’s just when your chorus is a bleeding sheep being hit then you don’t really look at it as a repeatable rock ‘n’ roll thing you can sing along too. But in structure it is. It is very conventional. You just have to kind of break it down more than listening to it as an observer and saying, ‘This guy’s nuts. He shouldn’t have that sound. My ears hurt and now he is blasting me with a live dying goat. What the hell am I supposed to make of this? Sing along, pal.'
I get him and I don’t totally understand why America doesn’t get him. They don’t get him because they don’t get Frank [Zappa]. They don’t take the time.
Now here’s something we’ve been waiting for for years!!! …
Hi Kent,
Now that Record Research has published the complete history of the Radio & Records Top 40 chart(s), we’d love to do the same for The Gavin Report (which ran from 1958-2002). We have every issue, starting with March 27, 1981. However, finding ANY issues before that time has been nearly impossible!
Obviously, we can’t do a book without access to those charts. I’ve been reaching out to all of my radio friends and even some of the old Gavin staffers in the hopes that somebody may have saved those back issues.
If anybody has any leads, please send them on to me at paul@recordresearch.com.
Thank you!
Paul Haney
Record Research
This is going to be a tough one … but SO worth it if you can pull it off!
Many will argue that The Gavin Report was the REAL Music Bible during that critical key period of the ‘60’s when this weekly mailed report is likely to have influence more radio programming decisions than Billboard, Cash Box and Record World … perhaps combined!!!
The odds of anybody saving every single issue is pretty remote … jeez, how many of those radio stations from this era even still exist anymore, much less some very yellowed and tattered papers?
But hey, I want to see this published as much as anybody … maybe even more … so I am VERY happy to help put the word out there … and will hope that the 200+ deejays on our list will help us to spread the word. (You can email Paul at the address above or me at kk@forgottenhits.com … let’s see what kind of collection we can build!)
And Paul, PLEASE keep us posted. (I don’t think the report had anywhere near the influence it did once you got past about 1975 … so those 1958 – 1975 editions are going to be the key drawing card.) I know Joel also talked about possibly compiling a book of the Variety Charts from back in the day … any update on that project?
Good Luck … and please stay in touch! (kk)
Many will argue that The Gavin Report was the REAL Music Bible during that critical key period of the ‘60’s when this weekly mailed report is likely to have influence more radio programming decisions than Billboard, Cash Box and Record World … perhaps combined!!!
The odds of anybody saving every single issue is pretty remote … jeez, how many of those radio stations from this era even still exist anymore, much less some very yellowed and tattered papers?
But hey, I want to see this published as much as anybody … maybe even more … so I am VERY happy to help put the word out there … and will hope that the 200+ deejays on our list will help us to spread the word. (You can email Paul at the address above or me at kk@forgottenhits.com … let’s see what kind of collection we can build!)
And Paul, PLEASE keep us posted. (I don’t think the report had anywhere near the influence it did once you got past about 1975 … so those 1958 – 1975 editions are going to be the key drawing card.) I know Joel also talked about possibly compiling a book of the Variety Charts from back in the day … any update on that project?
Good Luck … and please stay in touch! (kk)
Kent,
I read the story Ed Osborne mentioned about Tommy James appearing at a high school and laughed, as I was home yesterday working on tapes and going thru boxes of memorabilia and came across the 1966 Chicago "World Teen" Show program at McCormick Place that ran the week of July 22 - 31.
This show was quite a history making event, as I believe Dick Clark saw the Robbs in an appearance at this show and signed them as regulars to his "Where the Action Is" teen TV show in Hollywood.
It featured a teen "Battle of the Bands" that I believe had several acts that became known locally because of their appearances here.
Headliners were Chad & Jeremy (who, I believe, stayed at WLS' Ron Riley's home when there), Martha & the Vandellas, the Outsiders, and terrific locals the Shadows of Knight and New Colony 6. It also featured Tommy James and the Shondells!!
Of course, Clark Weber has told the story of getting "Hanky Panky" years earlier from a young Niles, Michigan, lad, Tommy James, and declining to play the song. Well, the week of the show, that record was #2 on the WLS Silver Dollar Survey as their first ever hit, coming down from #1 two weeks prior. After having read Tommy's great book, I can only guess that his new boss, Morris Levy, wrote the info for the band's appearance at the Chicago event above.
Check out the full page ad:
I read the story Ed Osborne mentioned about Tommy James appearing at a high school and laughed, as I was home yesterday working on tapes and going thru boxes of memorabilia and came across the 1966 Chicago "World Teen" Show program at McCormick Place that ran the week of July 22 - 31.
This show was quite a history making event, as I believe Dick Clark saw the Robbs in an appearance at this show and signed them as regulars to his "Where the Action Is" teen TV show in Hollywood.
It featured a teen "Battle of the Bands" that I believe had several acts that became known locally because of their appearances here.
Headliners were Chad & Jeremy (who, I believe, stayed at WLS' Ron Riley's home when there), Martha & the Vandellas, the Outsiders, and terrific locals the Shadows of Knight and New Colony 6. It also featured Tommy James and the Shondells!!
Of course, Clark Weber has told the story of getting "Hanky Panky" years earlier from a young Niles, Michigan, lad, Tommy James, and declining to play the song. Well, the week of the show, that record was #2 on the WLS Silver Dollar Survey as their first ever hit, coming down from #1 two weeks prior. After having read Tommy's great book, I can only guess that his new boss, Morris Levy, wrote the info for the band's appearance at the Chicago event above.
Check out the full page ad:
Also, your comments on the Stevie Nicks / ARS speed changes on "Imaginary Lover" came perfectly with a tape shared with FH'er Michael Thom about the origins of "Mirage" by Tommy James. I think this story may have been in his book, but if not, here's the story Michael told me:
Producer Richie Cordell accidently threaded a tape of "I Think We're Alone Now" backwards and from listening to it that way, came up with the basics of "Mirage"!!!!
Here's the backwards part where you can hear the makings of the "Mirage" melody! After what you hear, Cordell wrote different music, but the part you hear is basically the music to the hit follow-up!
Clark Besch
I love it ... Tommy James and the ShondeLs ... right out of Niles, Michigan, California!!!
I showed this shot to Tommy's manager ... man, were ANY of us ever really this young?!?! Thanks, Clark! (kk)
Alan Parsons has an album of all new material coming out (his first in fifteen years) on April 26th. (A video for the first single, “I Can’t Get There From Here” has already been posted on YouTube. It comes from the new movie 5-25-77, the date the first Star Wars film opened in theaters.)
I showed this shot to Tommy's manager ... man, were ANY of us ever really this young?!?! Thanks, Clark! (kk)
Alan Parsons has an album of all new material coming out (his first in fifteen years) on April 26th. (A video for the first single, “I Can’t Get There From Here” has already been posted on YouTube. It comes from the new movie 5-25-77, the date the first Star Wars film opened in theaters.)
As is usually the case, the album features a variety of guest vocalists (Lou Gramm, Jason Mraz and P.J. Olsson … plus Alan sings a handful of songs himself, too.)
Parsons says he’ll tour behind the album … which is GREAT news for us, who LOVE to see him in concert. (Alan has made our Best Concerts List every year he has performed here for as long as we’ve been tabulating these lists!)
We’re also starting to see promos on television for that new “Yesterday” movie we told you about a month ago or so … this one looks just quirky enough to be a hit. (What if nobody remembered The Beatles???
Here’s the trailer again!):
Here’s the trailer again!):
Lots of buzz, too, about the new Temptations musical that started on Broadway last week. Again based on the memories of the only living original member, Otis Williams, this time around he says you’re going to hear “the truth” about this incredible band. (We’ve watched his four hour made-for-tv movie at least thirty times now … TOTALLY enjoy it. If they can capture that same story, jam-packed with music, in just two hours, this would be a great show to see.)
I could've swore that you told me Tommy Roe was retiring.
Am I wrong?
Frank B.
Actually, Tommy has retired a few times now! (lol) And, after some health set-backs, we kinda figured that this was going to really be it … it might be too strenuous to record or (especially) go back out on the road … but the guy just keeps bouncing back … and it’s a shame to lock up all that talent when he’s still writing and recording … it’s really the only life he’s ever known … so I applaud him for it!
I could've swore that you told me Tommy Roe was retiring.
Am I wrong?
Frank B.
Actually, Tommy has retired a few times now! (lol) And, after some health set-backs, we kinda figured that this was going to really be it … it might be too strenuous to record or (especially) go back out on the road … but the guy just keeps bouncing back … and it’s a shame to lock up all that talent when he’s still writing and recording … it’s really the only life he’s ever known … so I applaud him for it!
And this new series of redoing his biggest hits should be interesting to follow … so I’m also looking forward to that. And if he decides that he does want to undertake the rigors of a small tour again, we sure would love to see him come back to the Chicago area. (Former musical director told me that if Tommy wanted to go back on the road, he was sure that he could work something out that would feature a double-bill featuring Tommy with The Box Tops, providing the proper back-up band for such a venture. Now wouldn’t THAT be a cool show to see???) kk
Speaking of short-term retirement, just few months after concluding his farewell tour, Paul Simon will be the headliner at Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco this August. Never say never!
And Phil Collins is back out on the road again, too. (It has got to be SO hard to just walk away from the fan adoration!) kk
Meanwhile, another door closes …
kk:
Goodbye Donny & Marie.
FB
https://abcnews.go.com/culture/story/donny-marie-osmond-officially-announce-end-longtime-las-61832215?cid=social_fb_abcn?fbclid=IwAR0yrz2kR1TPBZobicfFVVOG65garPKjDmevOG9AP4r7lXnPsRSQl09UZbA
Meanwhile, another door closes …
kk:
Goodbye Donny & Marie.
FB
https://abcnews.go.com/culture/story/donny-marie-osmond-officially-announce-end-longtime-las-61832215?cid=social_fb_abcn?fbclid=IwAR0yrz2kR1TPBZobicfFVVOG65garPKjDmevOG9AP4r7lXnPsRSQl09UZbA
FH Reader Clive Topol sent us this:
From The New York Times:
Reunion Tour! The Band Is Back! Wait, Who Are These Guys?
Once a band name turns into a brand name, there’s a strong incentive to continue on, even with a lineup that fans might not recognize.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/22/arts/music/band-name-reunions.html
John Fogerty was Billy Joel’s surprise guest at his monthly Madison Square Garden show last week.
Rolling Stone Magazine reports that this is “the first time that Fogerty has guested with Joel at this Madison Square Garden residency, where he’s played with everyone from Miley Cyrus and Paul Simon to John Mayer, Steve Miller, Tony Bennett and AC/DC’s Brian Johnson” … and then teases that “Joel turns 70 on May 9th and he’s celebrating with a show at MSG where it feels practically inevitable that he’ll be joined by at least one or two surprise guests.”
That should be a good one! (kk)
John seems to be struggling to hit some of the notes in this fan-shot video … it might be time to lower the key a step and make things a bit easier on both the singer and the audience!
From The New York Times:
Reunion Tour! The Band Is Back! Wait, Who Are These Guys?
Once a band name turns into a brand name, there’s a strong incentive to continue on, even with a lineup that fans might not recognize.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/22/arts/music/band-name-reunions.html
John Fogerty was Billy Joel’s surprise guest at his monthly Madison Square Garden show last week.
Rolling Stone Magazine reports that this is “the first time that Fogerty has guested with Joel at this Madison Square Garden residency, where he’s played with everyone from Miley Cyrus and Paul Simon to John Mayer, Steve Miller, Tony Bennett and AC/DC’s Brian Johnson” … and then teases that “Joel turns 70 on May 9th and he’s celebrating with a show at MSG where it feels practically inevitable that he’ll be joined by at least one or two surprise guests.”
That should be a good one! (kk)
John seems to be struggling to hit some of the notes in this fan-shot video … it might be time to lower the key a step and make things a bit easier on both the singer and the audience!
